Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports that the head of the Prime Minister's royal commission agreed to give the keynote speech to a Liberal Party fundraiser. Notwithstanding that he has now withdrawn, does the Prime Minister consider that it was appropriate that a sitting royal commissioner agreed to give the keynote address at a Liberal Party fundraiser?

Opposition members: Hear, hear!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The members on my left will cease interjecting! The member will not use a prop.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Plainly, the royal commissioner himself believed that it was inappropriate to give the address at a Liberal Party fundraiser.

Opposition members: We couldn't tell!

An opposition member: It's because he got caught! He got found out!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The members on my left will cease interjecting!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The commissioner issued a statement:

As early as 9.23 this morning (and prior to any media enquiry being received) he advised the organisers—

Nick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This place stinks of sulphur!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield and others will cease interjecting! I can barely hear the Prime Minister. This is disruptive behaviour. Cease interjecting so that the Prime Minister can answer the question the member for Watson has asked.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I may begin again: obviously, the royal commissioner himself believes that it is wrong for people in his position to address party fundraisers. As the statement issued on his behalf this morning said:

As early as 9.23 this morning (and prior to any media enquiry being received) he advised the organisers that 'if there was any possibility that the event could be described as a Liberal Party event he will be unable to give the address.'

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McMahon is warned! The members for Charlton and Gellibrand and the member for Throsby will not display props. The member for Throsby will not display a prop. It is disorderly behaviour and I would ask the clerks to collect them.

An opposition member interjecting—

I acted yesterday on a minister with a prop.

Mr Watts interjecting—

Seriously! The member for Gellibrand is warned!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to assure the member who asked the question that the behaviour of the royal commissioner has been absolutely beyond reproach.

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left!

An opposition member: Another captain's pick?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me say to members opposite that this government will certainly defend the integrity of the royal commissioner—

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bendigo!

An opposition member: Declare your interests!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If members opposite want to debate the royal commission, we are happy to debate the royal commission as well. We are happy to debate the royal commission as well, because let us not forget that this royal commission was originally called for by none other than the former secretary of the Australian Workers Union, now member of the Fair Work Commission, Ian Cambridge.

Mr Bowen interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McMahon has been warned!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This royal commission was called for by a Victorian Labor member of parliament.

Mr Champion interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield is warned!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This royal commission is necessary because of the rorts, rackets and rip-offs which have been exposed inside the union movement. If members opposite were more interested in looking after workers and less interested in looking after themselves they would support this royal commission. And, as well as supporting this royal commission, they would back the registered organisations commission bill, which applies to union officials the same standards of integrity that have always been applied to company directors.

Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Contrary to standing order 91(delta)—

Opposition members interjecting—

the member for Fraser has ignored your ruling to hand over the prop. He has retained a copy of that prop, and in the aftermath of your ruling has continued to display it.

Opposition members: Roger that!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left will cease interjecting! Members on my left can choose when they wish to recommence question time. The clerk will collect the prop from the member for Fraser. I thank the member for Bass for pointing out standing order 91(d) and any other props that the clerk may seize.

Before I call the member for Forrest: we are five minutes into question time and the level of disruption on my left is unacceptable. It goes against what this House is about, and it goes against what the Leader of the Opposition said was his ambition for a better parliament on Monday.